Our Family’s Inner World – Love Map Explorers!

Activity: Our Family’s Inner World – Love Map Explorers!

Brief Guideline:
The goal of this activity is to have fun, share, and learn more about each other’s current inner worlds – our “love maps.” Find a comfortable time when everyone is relaxed, perhaps after dinner or on a weekend.

1. Set the Mood: Make it cozy! Maybe some snacks or a special drink. Put away phones.
2. One at a Time: Someone can read a question, and then each family member takes a turn answering. No interruptions while someone is sharing.
3. Listen with Love: The most important part is to listen actively and with an open heart. No judging, no correcting, just receiving what the other person is sharing.
4. It’s Okay to Pass: If someone isn’t comfortable answering a particular question, they can say “pass.”
5. Keep it Light & Positive: Even when talking about struggles, focus on understanding and support. The aim is connection!
6. Celebrate Sharing: Thank each other for opening up.

Love Map Explorer Questions:

Theme: Characters [friends, rivals]

1. Question: Who is one the friend (or someone you know) that you’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and what’s one interesting or kind thing you’ve noticed about them recently?

Theme: Events [Upcoming]
2.  Question: What’s one upcoming event (big or small – like a school project due, a family outing, a holiday) that you’re feeling a mix of emotions about (e.g., excited but nervous, or curious but a little worried)?

Theme: Stresses and worries
3.  Question: If you could have a “worry-eating monster” gobble up just ONE of your current stresses or worries, which one would you feed it and why?

Theme: Hopes and aspirations [dreams]
4.  Question: What’s a secret (or not-so-secret!) hope or dream you have for yourself for the next year? It could be learning something new, visiting a place, or achieving a small goal.

Theme: Who I am
5.  Question: If you had to describe your “superpower” (a quality or skill you’re really good at or proud of right now), what would it be and how do you use it?

Theme: Failures /Successes/ struggles
6.  Question: Think about a time recently when something felt a bit challenging or like a struggle. What’s one small thing you did that you felt good about, even if it didn’t solve everything? (This could be asking for help, trying again, or just taking a break!)

Theme: Emotional world –fears, Injuries
7.  Question: What’s one feeling you’ve experienced strongly this past week (like joy, frustration, surprise, or peacefulness), and can you share a little about what might have sparked that feeling?

Theme: Who I want to become.
8.  Question: When you imagine the “you” of a few years from now, what’s one new kind or thoughtful thing you hope you’ll be even better at doing for others?

Bonus Fun/Connecting Questions (Blending Themes):
9.  Question (Characters/Who I Am): If our family was a team of adventurers on a quest, what special role or character would you most like to be (e.g., the brave leader, the clever map-reader, the cheerful cook, the strong protector) and why?
10. Question (Events/Hopes): What’s one simple, fun thing you’d love for our family to do all together in the next month, just to create a happy memory?

Enjoy each other’s rich detail and keep updating your emotional maps. You will see that it will also open a page for emotional updating of your spouse and family members. And this is where any good communication starts.